Preformatted emergency text message

ABSTRACT

A wireless communications device and method for generating and communicating an emergency text message includes in response to receiving a request to communicate an emergency text message, accessing stored personal data for use in generating content of the emergency text message. A determination may be made if current location coordinates are available. The emergency text message may be populated with the accessed stored personal data and current location coordinates, if available. The populated emergency text message may be communicated over a communications network.

PRIORITY

This Application claims priority to co-pending Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/078,123, entitled: Emergency 911 Text Messaging Services, was filed on Jul. 3, 2008; the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

When emergencies occur or other help is needed, people will reach out to emergency services, such as 911, for assistance. Traditionally, in order to request emergency services, a person places a telephone call to 911 or another emergency telephone number. As cellular and Internet-based phones rival traditional telephones connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) in popularity, emergency call centers are receiving calls from an increasing variety of sources. Because different sources for requesting emergency services may have different capabilities, there is a need for emergency call centers to be able to move beyond ordinary PSTN telephone capabilities. For example, text messaging, e-mail, and various other features have become more common on cellular telephones.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to provide an emergency call center, such as a 911 Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), with complete information in the event a text message or other similar emergency communication is sent to the PSAP, a preformatted emergency text message may be generated on a wireless communications device and communicated via a communications network. An appropriate emergency call center may be determined on the communications network and the generated preformatted emergency text message may be communicated to the appropriate PSAP.

One embodiment of a method for generating an emergency text message includes, in response to receiving a request to communicate an emergency text message, accessing stored personal data for use in generating content of the emergency text message. A determination may be made as to whether current location coordinates are available. If available, the emergency text message may be populated with the accessed stored personal data and the current location coordinates. The populated emergency text message may be communicated over a communications network to a public safety answering point.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, which are incorporated by reference herein and wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of an environment for generating and communicating a preformatted emergency text message;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of a wireless communications device configured to communicate a preformatted emergency text message;

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of one embodiment of a display screen on a wireless communications device;

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of one embodiment of a display screen on a wireless communications device;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of one embodiment of components of a wireless communications device configured to communicate a preformatted emergency text message according to principles of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of one embodiment for inputting a fast track address according to principles of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for inputting a current address location according to principles of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for communicating an emergency text message to a PSAP according to principles of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method for communicating an emergency text message to a PSAP according to principles of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one embodiment of an environment 100 for generating and communicating a preformatted or un-preformatted emergency text message. A user 102 using a wireless communications device 104 may communicate an emergency text message 106 over a communications network 108 via an emergency message router 110 to one of multiple public safety answering point (PSAP) 112 a-112 n (collectively 112). The wireless communications device 104 may be a cellular phone, mobile phone, multi-mode phone, text messenger, personal digital assistant (PDA), wireless game device, or any other communications device configured to communicate an emergency text message 106 or other data messages over the communications network 108. An emergency text message 106 may include a text message, a short message service (SMS) message, a multi-media messaging service (MMS), an email, instant message, photo messages, video messages or any other type of text message in which the communications network 108 is configured to communicate. It should be understood that the wireless communications device 104 may similarly be configured to communicate other data messages, such as emails, photographs, videos, instant messages, and the like. The communications network 108 may be a cellular network, such as GSM or CDMA, the Internet, WiMAX, or any other communications network configured to communicate with the PSAP 112. The PSAPs 112 may interact with the communications network 108 to retrieve additional information to help facilitate emergency services.

In one embodiment, the wireless communications device 104 communicates the emergency text message 106 over the wireless communications network 108 to emergency message router 110. The emergency message router 110 may be in communication with the communications network 108 and be configured to receive and distribute emergency text messages, such as emergency text message 106. Some data that the emergency message router 110 may use to route emergency text messages to the appropriate PSAP includes current user location information, such as a cell site ID code (CCID), also referred to as cell site coordinates, global positioning system (GPS) coordinates, or other available information in the emergency text message 106. Along with information stored in the emergency message router 110, as well as available on remote sources, the emergency message router 110 may then choose the most appropriate PSAP for message delivery. Given that there are many thousands of PSAPs, selection of the most appropriate or closest PSAP to the current location of the user who sent the emergency text message can be helpful to emergency personnel.

As not all wireless communications devices are configured to generate preformatted emergency data messages, a user may generate and communicate a freeform emergency data message (e.g., text message, e-mail, instant message, image message) to a network address, such as Internet domain name “911.911,” for routing to a PSAP local to the user. A freeform emergency data message is any data message that is addressed and communicated to a network address for routing to a PSAP local to the user

The PSAPs have a wide variety of capabilities depending upon the equipment and level of sophistication of the PSAP 112. For instance, some of the PSAPs 112 may have limited capabilities and be capable of receiving address information, call back number, and a person's name to which the calling phone number is registered. Other, more sophisticated PSAPs 112, may have the ability to receive GPS location coordinates, as well as other more detailed information. The emergency message router 110 may have knowledge of the capabilities of each of the PSAPs 112 and use this knowledge, in addition to distance or other location information, to determine the most appropriate PSAP for the message. Having an emergency message router 110 allows for a stored emergency network address, such as “911.911”, to be used as a generic address, rather than individual users 102 having to input a specific PSAP address each time their location changes. Without the emergency message router 110, an emergency text message 106 may be delivered to a PSAP which either does not have the capability of receiving text messages or may not be the closest PSAP to the user 102. Within the PSAP may be one or more terminals having a PSAP display screen 114 for displaying the emergency text message 106. Any known or related information to the user who sent the emergency text message 106 may also be displayed on the PSAP display screen 114 upon receipt.

FIG. 2 is an illustration of one embodiment of a wireless communications device 200 configured to communicate an emergency text message. The wireless communications device 200 may include a display screen 202 for communicating visual data, such as text, to a user. In this embodiment, the display screen 202 depicts a number of fields used in populating a preformatted emergency text message. A recipient field 204 may include a generic emergency message router address, such as “911.911”, as described previously in FIG. 1. By default, the recipient field 204 may automatically be populated with the generic emergency message router address.

A message text field 206 may also be pre-populated with a default message, such as, “need emergency/911 help.” In an alternative embodiment, the message text field may be entered manually and edited by the user. Alternatively, the message text field may be selected from a list of pre-defined emergency messages. A name field 208 may also be included for indicating the name of the person associated with a wireless communications device 200 that is communicating the emergency text message. In an alternative embodiment, the name field 208 may also be edited by the user replacing any default name in the field. A call back number field 210 may provide a PSAP with a number for contacting the user for more information regarding an emergency. The call back number 210 may not necessarily be a number directly associated with the wireless communication device 200, but rather may be a number associated with an emergency contact, such as a family member or friend. For example, some wireless communications devices 200 may have text capability, but not voice capability. Therefore, an attempt to call the wireless communication device may not work. Providing the call back number 210 belonging to a friend or family member may allow a person at the PSAP to obtain additional information that could prove helpful.

A current location field 212 may be populated by the user prior to communicating the emergency text message. Alternatively, the current location field 212 may be blank if the user chooses or does not have time to populate the current location field 212. While the current location field 212 may be useful in providing the PSAP with location information, it may not always be possible to have the current location field 212 updated or entered prior to sending the emergency text message. Because the current location field 212 may be blank, a permanent address field 214 may also be provided to send the PSAP. The permanent address may be the user's home or office, where additional information may likely be found. Even if the wireless communications device 200 is not located at the permanent address found in the permanent address field 212, having a permanent contact address may prove to be useful in the event an investigation or other information needs to be obtained at a later time.

GPS coordinate fields 216 may also be included to provide GPS coordinates to the PSAP if the wireless communications device 200 is GPS enabled. If the wireless communications device 200 is GPS enabled, latitude and longitude coordinates may be included in the emergency text message and communicated within the emergency text message to provide specific location information for locating the user with the wireless communications device 200. Frequently, GPS coordinate information will not be available because of location or environmental factors, such as being in a basement or a thickly walled building. Therefore, GPS coordinate information may not be available, even if the wireless communications device 200 is GPS enabled. Additionally, GPS coordinates may be requested from the communications network, as is described below in reference to FIG. 8. When the fields are populated, either by the user or automatically by the wireless communications device 200, a send button 218 may be activated to communicate the emergency text message. The fields may be pre-populated during a setup procedure, with the exception of GPS coordinate field 216, thereby allowing a user in an emergency situation to communicate the message without taking the time to input new information. Because the GPS coordinates are expected to vary over time, the GPS coordinates, if available, may be automatically inserted by the wireless communications device 200 at the time of the emergency.

FIG. 3 is a screen shot of one embodiment of a display screen 300 on a wireless communications device. On the display screen 300, a user may be prompted to enter information into the current location field as described in FIG. 2. The current address input field 302 may be populated using a touch screen or keypad as available on the wireless communications device. The current address input field 302 may be altered at any time by the user. The current address of the user provides the PSAP with more specific information regarding the exact location of the wireless communications device. Upon completion of the address into the current address input field 302, a user may submit the information by selecting the submit button 304. In one embodiment, in order to avoid an incorrect current address or location information from being sent to the PSAP, the wireless communications device may be configured to clear the current location field when it is determined that the user has moved beyond a set distance, such as 50 feet. For example, if a user's CCID code or GPS coordinates have changed, the user would not want the current address field to incorrectly display location information in the event of an emergency. The wireless communications device may be configured to recognize the change and automatically clear out the current location field. In one embodiment, previous addresses may be stored and selectable by the user to make entering the address faster and easier.

FIG. 4 is a screen shot of an embodiment of a display screen 400 on a wireless communications device. On the display screen 400, a user may be prompted to enter an address for the permanent address input field 402. The permanent address input field 402 may be the default address for use in the event that a current address is unavailable at the time an emergency text message is being sent by the user. The permanent address input field 402 may be associated with an emergency contact or may be the billing address associated with the wireless communications device. While the permanent address input field 402 may be updated at any time, generally, the permanent address field does not change as frequently as the current address field. In addition to user input, the permanent address input field may be populated based on billing data available over the network or another available data source. Upon population of the permanent address input field, the user may submit the information by selecting a submit button 404.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of one embodiment of components 500 of a wireless communications device 501 configured to communicate a preformatted emergency text message according to principles of the present invention. The wireless communications device 501 may also include a processor 502 for processing the preformatted emergency text message. The processor 502 may execute software 504 capable of performing the functionality of the wireless communications device 501. The wireless communications device 501 may also include an input/output (I/O) unit 506 for communicating emergency text messages as well as providing for the traditional functionalities of the wireless communication device 501, as commonly known in the art. The I/O unit 506 may additionally include a transceiver (not shown) for transmitting an emergency message to a PSAP or remote location and for receiving and sending communications as commonly performed by a wireless communications device 501.

A memory 508 may also be located within the wireless communications device 501 for storing data being processed by the processor 502, as well as user data (not shown) for use in generating a preformatted emergency text message 509. The memory 508 may be RAM, FLASH, or any other memory configured to operate in the wireless communication device 501. In addition to data being processed and the user data, the memory 508 may also store menu information 510 used in displaying menus for guiding a user of the wireless communications device 501 through creation of an emergency text message. Templates 511 that define structure of text messages that are used to report different types of emergencies may also be stored in the memory 508. Depending on selections made by the user using the menus 510, a particular one of the templates 511 may be selected for use in generating an emergency text message. Having different emergency text message templates 511 allows different information to be included or not included depending on the particular type of emergency selected by the user via the menus 510. For example, a fire emergency away from a user's home may not include the user's home address as would a medical emergency occurring at the user's home.

A display 512 for viewing data from the wireless communications device 501 may also be provided. The display 512 may also allow for a user to view an emergency text message that has been generated, edit the message, read replies, and perform many other functions of a display 512.

A GPS device 514 may also be provided within the wireless communications device 501. The GPS device 514 may be an electronic component or some other hardware, either integrated into the wireless communications device or in communication with the wireless communications device 501, which provides GPS enablement to the wireless communications device 501. GPS enablement allows for the wireless communications device 501 to be able to generate current GPS coordinates, which may be used within the emergency text message.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart which is one embodiment of a method 600 for inputting a fast track address according to the principles of the present invention, where a fast track address may be considered the permanent address associated with a wireless communications device that enables a user to be quickly tracked by emergency personnel, as described previously. At step 602, a determination is made as to whether a fast track address has been stored. If a fast track address has been stored, the process ends. If there is no fast track address stored, in step 604, a user is prompted to enter a fast track address using the keypad or any other available input means on the wireless communications device. The fast track address entered may be any address that the user would like to associate with the wireless communications device. In step 606, the entered fast track address for use in the emergency text message may be stored. Upon initiating the communication of an emergency text message, there will be, at a minimum, a fast track address available for communication to the PSAP. Ideally, current location information would also be communicated. However, current location information may not always be available. The described process may occur at any time and is not limited to an initial setup. For example, a user wishing to update a fast track address may also have that option.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart which is one embodiment of a method 700 for inputting a current address location according to principles of the present invention. At step 702, a wireless communications device may receive a request to submit a current address representing where the user is currently located. The request may be generated in response to an input (e.g., menu selection) by the user or the request may be automatically generated by the wireless communications device in the event that the wireless communications device recognizes a change in current location. In step 704, a user is prompted to enter the current address location. The current address location may be a street address, a landmark address, or any other similar address where emergency services may be able to locate the user. In step 706, a current address location for use in emergency text messages may be stored by the wireless communications device. As described previously, if a current address location is not entered by the user, this field may remain blank, thereby potentially reducing the usefulness of the emergency text message for users at the PSAP. However, having the current address location blanked after it is determined that the wireless communications device has moved removes the likelihood that incorrect location information would be stored or otherwise communicated to emergency services.

FIG. 8 is one embodiment of a flow chart 800 for communicating an emergency text message to a PSAP according to principles of the present invention. In step 802, a wireless communications device receives an emergency text message request from a user. The emergency text message request may be initiated by a hard-button, a soft-button, or any other number of methods for initiating the request. In step 804, the wireless communications device may access the stored address data, name data, and message data that is available for populating an emergency text message. The stored data may be located within a wireless communications device itself, but may also be located remotely. Storing the data locally, however, insures that whether or not a communications link is presently available to a remote location including the data, the information will be available.

In step 806, a determination is made as to whether GPS coordinate data is available. If the wireless communications device is GPS enabled and the GPS coordinates are available, then at step 808, an emergency text message is populated with the GPS coordinates. The emergency text message is also populated with the stored information. In step 809, the emergency text message is sent to emergency services, such as a PSAP via a network router configured to identify and route the emergency message to a PSAP local to the user.

If the GPS coordinate data was not available in step 806, in step 810 a request may be made for coordinates that may be available from the network. Triangulation or another commonly known method may be used by the network to determine GPS coordinate data. In step 812, a determination is made as to whether the current GPS coordinates are available within a predetermined time window. The predetermined time window may be anytime from a fraction of a second to multiple seconds and should provide sufficient time for coordinates to be made available from the network. If the current GPS coordinates are available within the predetermined time window from step 812, the emergency text message may be populated and then sent to emergency services complete with GPS coordinate data as described previously in steps 808 and 809. If the current GPS coordinates were not available within the predetermined time window, the emergency text message may be sent without GPS coordinate data in step 809. In step 814, a determination is made as to whether the GPS coordinate data was sent. If the GPS coordinate data was sent, the process ends. If the current GPS coordinates data were not sent, a second time window may be granted. In step 816, it may be determined whether GPS coordinates were available within the second time window. If the GPS coordinates data were available within the predetermined second time window, the emergency text message may be populated with the current GPS coordinates and sent to emergency services as described in steps 808 and 809. If the GPS coordinates were not available within the second time window, the process ends.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart 900 of one embodiment for communicating an emergency text message to a PSAP according to principles of the present invention. In step 902, in response to receiving a request to communicate an emergency text message, stored personal data may be accessed for use in generating content of the emergency text message. Stored personal data may include names, addresses, phone numbers, and any other relevant information. In step 904, a determination is made as to whether current location coordinates are available. Current location coordinates may be provided by a GPS enabled wireless communications device or any available network in which the wireless communications device is in communication. The emergency text message may be populated in step 906 with the accessed stored personal data and current location coordinates, if available. In step 908, the populated emergency text message may be communicated over a communications network.

Although the principles of the present have primarily been described with regard to wireless communications devices, it should be understood that wired communications devices, including wired/wireless computers, may be adapted to include emergency messaging, as described herein. One or more buttons or other initiation devices may be provided on the wired communications devices to generate and communicate an emergency data message to a network location for routing to a PSAP local to the user. In adapting the wired communications devices, software may be included in the devices to generate and communicate an emergency data message (e.g., text message or email) using a communications protocol that is capable of being communicated over the communications network (e.g., public switched telephone network, cable network, Internet), as understood in the art. Information specific to the user, location of the user, or otherwise may be included in the emergency data message. For example, name, address, number of people in residence, photograph, medical conditions, or any other information may be pre-established for retrieval and inclusion in the emergency data message, thereby providing information to an operator at a PSAP to provide emergency personnel, such as police, firemen, or medical personnel.

The previous detailed description is of a small number of embodiments for implementing the invention and is not intended to be limiting in scope. One of skill in this art will immediately envisage the methods and variations used to implement this invention in other areas than those described in detail. The following claims set forth a number of the embodiments of the invention disclosed with greater particularity. 

1. A method for generating an emergency text message, said method comprising: in response to receiving a request to communicate an emergency text message, accessing stored personal data for use in generating content of the emergency text message; determining if current location coordinates are available; populating the emergency text message with the accessed stored personal data and current location coordinates, if available; and communicating the populated emergency text message over a communications network.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: determining if the current location coordinates are available includes determining whether GPS coordinates are locally available; and if GPS coordinates are currently locally available, populating the emergency text message with the locally available GPS coordinates.
 3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising: if GPS coordinates are not currently locally available, requesting current location coordinates from the communications network; and populating the emergency text message with the current network location coordinates if received from the communications network.
 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein requesting current location coordinates includes requesting cell site coordinates.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein accessing the personal data includes accessing a name and fast track address, if available.
 6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising accessing the current address, if available.
 7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising accessing a stored emergency network address.
 8. The method according to claim 7, wherein communicating the emergency text message includes communicating the emergency text message to the emergency network address.
 9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emergency text message is preformatted and the personal data and current location coordinates are positioned in preformatted data fields.
 10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: if current location coordinates were not populated in the emergency text message previously communicated, requesting current location coordinates; in response to receiving the current location coordinates, populating a second emergency text message; and communicating the second emergency text message over the communications network.
 11. A wireless communications device, comprising: a memory storing personal data of a user; an input/output (I/O) unit configured to communicate with a communications network; a user interface; and a processing unit in communication with said memory, I/O unit, and user interface, and configured to: in response to receiving a request to communicate an emergency text message by a user interacting with the user interface, access the stored personal data in said memory; determine if current location coordinates are available; populate the emergency text message with the accessed stored personal data and current location coordinates, if available; and communicate the populated emergency text message over a communications network.
 12. The wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein said processing unit, in determining if the current location coordinates are available, is configured to: determine whether GPS coordinates are locally available; and if GPS coordinates are currently locally available, populate the emergency text message with the locally available GPS coordinates.
 13. The wireless communications device according to claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further configured to: if GPS coordinates are not currently locally available, request current location coordinates from the communications network; and populate the emergency text message with the current network location coordinates if received from the communications network.
 14. The wireless communications device according to claim 13, wherein the processing unit, in requesting current location coordinates, is further configured to request cell site coordinates.
 15. The wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein the processing unit, in accessing the personal data, is configured to access a name and fast track address, if available.
 16. The wireless communications device according to claim 15, further configured to access the current address, if available.
 17. The wireless communications device according to claim 11, further configured to access a stored emergency network address.
 18. The wireless communications device according to claim 17, wherein the wireless communications device, in communicating the emergency text message, is configured to communicate the emergency text message to the emergency network address.
 19. The wireless communications device according to claim 11, further comprising: accessing an emergency text message template; and wherein the emergency text message is formatted based on the emergency text message template and the personal data and current location coordinates are positioned in preformatted data fields.
 20. The wireless communications device according to claim 11, wherein said processor is further configured to: if current location coordinates were not populated in the emergency text message previously communicated, request current location coordinates; in response to receiving the current location coordinates, populate a second emergency text message; and communicate the second emergency text message over the communications network. 